For the Love of Ivey

SHE'S HOME !!!!!

As I said, make no plans. We miss our daughter; they miss their sister; we long for our family. Today Ivey's homecoming was stalled for one more day. We guestimate that she will now come home on Thursday, but do not be suprised if it turns out to be Monday. The hold up revolves around our nursing service. Nurses just are not available for our area. Amazing, we live in a town with two great hospitals and a nursing school and there is a shortage of nurses. So, if anyone out there is interested or knows someone who is interested in pediatric home health care, I would love to send you information to contact our agency. We seem to be stuck at square one. Matt really wanted me to share our good news with all of you. I am not quite sure how to word this so you experience our excitement about today's events with Ivey. I know that I have mentioned this, but I have not spent much time on it. With the trach, Ivey no longer makes sound. The air to her lungs is rerouted; therefore, the air ...

Didn't I say that things are subject to change without discussion or warning when it comes to Ivey? Well, put a great big X through Tuesday and circle Wednesday. She should be released from the hospital and on her way home in another 48 hours. That's the plan..... The doctors feel that she is ready. After a long emotional stay, Ivey has benefitted from her hospitalization. The paralytic that she was under in the beginning of her stay seems to have loosened her up a bit. Ivey has alot of tone. Unlike most babies who are pretty floppy, Ivey's muscles are tight and her range of motion is extremely limited. Now, her muscles have relaxed emensly. I think Ivey's physical therapist will be extremely happy with the results. Ivey's lip and nose look beautiful weeks after the cleft repair surgery. We are to assume that she will return in about three months for the surgery on her palate. A surgery that will require another hospitalization. She is adjusting to the PEG tube. Her...

Knox, Walker and I woke up this morning to a Thanksgiving Day unique unto its self. Unlike years prior, they are not waking up together with their Dad or walking into a baby's room to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day. After a tough year, thankful is an understatement to describe the joys we/I appreciate this year. For the first time in 31 years I realize that I do not need a single day to remind me of my blessings or a special day to celebrate those blessings. Here lately, I have hit my knees in my own solitude and praised God for all of my blessings without a date on a calendar to remind me to take the time. It has not taken a special 24 hours to remind me how thankful I am for my family. I hit my knees almost daily and rejoice in the friendship that surrounds me and my family. Today, I will celebrate the fact that I do not need an exclusive day to be thankful that I found my best friend to walk through life's joys and its curve balls. I will embrace today and in its fulle...

Father Peter: "Are you Catholic?" Mom: "No, Episcopalian." Father Peter: Shrugging his shoulders and smiling. "Close enough." God definitely has a sense of humor and pretty good timing. For this post I will refer back to my list among lists in my little notebook that I carry with me always. Thursday, October 26th Pre-op for Day Surgery and Craniofacial appointment- After a long day of registering Ivey for her surgery on her cleft lip, the only surgery officially scheduled at the time, it was time for dinner. We decided to take Ivey out-on-the-town for a little surgery celebration. Remember we are early birds; it was only 5:30 pm. After little haggling over restaurants, we (Matt) suggested that we eat at Matt's favorite restaurant, Bones . Who was I to disagree? It is delicious. Ivey loved her night out. She celebrated by sleeping through the entire dinner. Seemingly, she knew when dessert was over, she started to stir and get a little fussy. Like two p...

Time with Ivey and two little boys has become more complex, more relaxing, full of fear and estatic with joy in just a short three weeks. And right this moment, all three are sleeping peacefully and there is a moment to sit and breathe. I am here at the hospital with Ivey watching her sleep yet, still wishing that I could stand in the boys' doorway to watch them sleep. Next week on the 25th, Ivey will be 7 months old. Officially, she will have spent 2 months of her 7 in a hospital. Each day that has passed in those two months, Knox and Walker have whole heartedly stepped through each day with her. Not a day has gone by that they lift their heads from their pillows, bare feet hitting the hardwoods and ask where is Ivey, where is Daddy? And instinctively they answer their own question - at Scot White with Ivey. And in return, Matt says the same is done on the days I am here with Ivey, except they ask about their Momma. Not a day has passed that I don't ask, not necessarily to any...

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, words can't describe these........